Safeguarding children with special educational needs and disabled children Robin Harper-Coulson Northumberland Safeguarding Children Board Business Manager

Keeping children safe in education 2016, statutory guidance for schools and colleges Governing bodies and proprietors should ensure their child protection policy reflects the fact that additional barriers can exist when recognising abuse and neglect in this group of children. These can include: assumptions that indicators of possible abuse such as behaviour, mood and injury relate to the child’s disability without further exploration; the potential for children with SEN and disabilities being disproportionally impacted by behaviours such as bullying, without outwardly showing any signs; and communication barriers and difficulties in overcoming these barriers.

What we know about disabled children's experiences of abuse Disabled children are at a greater risk of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect than non-disabled children Disabled children at greatest risk of abuse are those with behaviour/conduct disorders. Other high-risk groups include children with learning difficulties/disabilities, children with speech and language difficulties, children with health-related conditions and deaf children. Disabled children in residential care/schools face particular risks Bullying is a feature in the lives of many disabled children. ‘We have the right to be safe’ Protecting disabled children from abuse, David Miller and Jon Brown  2014

What we know about what puts disabled children at risk Factors that increase risk and lessen protection for disabled children include: Attitudes and assumptions – e.g. A reluctance to believe disabled children are abused; minimising the impact of abuse; and attributing indicators of abuse to the child's impairment Barriers to the disabled child and their family accessing support services Issues related to a child's specific impairment – e.g. Dependency on a number of carers for personal or intimate care; impaired capacity to resist/avoid abuse, difficulties in communicating; and an inability to understand what is happening or to seek help Limited opportunities for disabled children to seek help from someone else A lack of professional skills, expertise and confidence in identifying child protection concerns and the lack of an effective child protection response.

Why are disabled children more vulnerable Why are disabled children more vulnerable? including children with learning disabilities They may; be in contact and/or receive care from numerous people be isolated/have few opportunities for developing knowledge of sexual and personal relationships be ‘schooled’ to compliance and eager to please have low self-esteem and/or be less assertive have limited communication be less physically able to resist or run away

Safety Codes for non-disabled and disabled children Shout Say no Run away Tell a grown up Don’t go with a stranger Don’t go in a strange car Don’t take sweets or food from strange grown ups Grown-ups shouldn’t touch the private parts of your body or ask you to touch theirs The underwear rule These are messages we give to children which could be confusing for a disabled child. How could they be adapted?

What can you do in school? Effective communication with the child and colleagues is key to achieving good outcomes. In a large school build clear communication with the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). Provide training on safeguarding SEND children to the whole school in partnership with the DSL Have clear anti-bullying and child protection policies that identify children with SEND as a vulnerable group Raise SEND children's awareness of abuse and ability to seek help, (Do they know the SENCOs and DSL roles) Have a clear understanding of referral routes and areas where you can get support

What is available A short PowerPoint presentation will be available at www. http://northumberlandeducation.co.uk/ for whole school training The NSCB runs a course Safeguarding Disabled Children and places are available at http://ncc.learningpool.com/%20 Posters are available for staff rooms at the NSCB website http://tinyurl.com/hmta66y Safeguarding and child protection referral should be made through the usual channels http://tinyurl.com/znxcn78 Early help referrals can be made to the hub http://tinyurl.com/h6q4d6j